HOUSTON: GUARDS: Houston has gutted its roster, and this is JEREMY LIN's team now. Coach Kevin McHale will use the same pick-and-roll offense he used with Goran Dragic, and Lin should do what he did in New York a year ago . . . KEVIN MARTIN is on the trade block. As long as he's in Houston, he'll be in and out of McHale's doghouse, especially seeing that he's not in the long-term plans . . . JEREMY LAMB should push Martin for minutes early. Lamb will have some defensive issues, but he's a cagey scorer who should mesh well with Lin . . . CARLOS DELFINO replaces Chase Budinger as the team's most reliable marksman from three-point range . . . TONEY DOUGLAS' defensive ability puts him in the running for a rotation spot . . . SHAUN LIVINGSTON can give them 12 to 15 minutes a night . . . Rookie SCOTT MACHADO, an outstanding passer, will back up Lin . . . GARY FORBES will have trouble finding minutes. FORWARDS: CHANDLER PARSONS was a nice surprise a year ago. He's a fifth option offensively but does the hustle/energy thing well . . . 2011 first-rounder DONATAS MOTIEJUNAS is a skilled 7-footer who fits with Lin. Expect him to grab a starting job by midseason, but he can also play center when required . . . This might be the year PATRICK PATTERSON makes an impact. His game is limited, but he can rebound and score around the basket . . . ROYCE WHITE is a 270-pounder with point guard skills. He needs the ball in his hands though, which is why he's not a great fit with Lin in the starting lineup . . . TERRENCE JONES has a tweener skill set. At this point, he's better suited for the second unit . . . Speaking of 'tweeners, MARCUS MORRIS looks to be nowhere near contributing. CENTERS: OMER ASIK earned his reputation as a defensive stud in Chicago, and he'll get a little more offensive freedom in Houston. He is quite foul-prone though, and he'll be tested on the free-throw line early and often . . . His backup, GREG SMITH, has more fouls (17) than points (14) in his 69-minute NBA career.

BROOKLYN: GUARDS: DERON WILLIAMS is healthy and got a much-improved supporting cast to work with. He could re-enter the NBA's best point guard discussion . . . JOE JOHNSON won't have the ballin his hands as much as he used to in Atlanta. It might give him a chance to concentrate on regaining his stroke as one of the NBA's best shooters . . . MARSHON BROOKS will look to settle in as a high-scoring sixth man. He'll be trade bait for most of the season . . . After a disastrous year in Chicago, C.J. WATSON will be asked to spell Williams for a few minutes a night . . . KEITH BOGANS is still kicking around as a second unit glue guy . . . TYSHAWN TAYLOR is an at-times out-of-control combo guard, but the rookie could threaten Watson's role at some point. FORWARDS: KRIS HUMPHRIES' contract was structured to make him easier to trade. He'll rebound and get his put-backs, and the Nets will likely showcase him a bit . . . GERALD WALLACE is slowing down, and now that he's signed his last big NBA contract he might not have much incentive to live up to his 'Crash' nickname. Brooklyn has no choice but to give him heavy minutes considering their investment . . . MIRZA TELETOVIC is a veteran stretch four. Consider him a penniless man's Channing Frye . . . TORNIKE SHENGELIA played himself into a roster spot this summer. He's a mediocre athlete, but a cagey scorer with a high basketball IQ . . . JOSH CHILDRESS and JERRY STACKHOUSE were added in September for depth . . . REGGIE EVANS will flop unconvincingly, punch opponents in the jewels and bring other 'tough guy' intangibles. CENTERS: BROOK LOPEZ had been remarkably durable before last year's foot injury, and he should be fully healed by the start of training camp. He's gifted offensively, but will continue to grab relatively few rebounds and generally get fried defensively. He's also a candidate to be traded midseason if another franchise can stomach his max contract . . . As insurance, former Wizards big man ANDRAY BLATCHE was brought in. He could be the team's best interior defender, able to play either the four or five spot.

The Houston Rockets turned themselves into playoff contenders by trading for James Harden this offseason.

While Thomas Robinson may not have as big an impact, Houston is counting on some key contributions from the highly touted rookie.

Coming off one of their more impressive efforts of the season, the visiting Rockets try for a 13th consecutive win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Houston (30-26) acquired Harden in a six-player deal with Oklahoma City just days before the season started, a move that's paid significant dividends.

The Rockets, whose last postseason appearance came in 2009, hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. That success is due in large part to Harden, who ranks fifth in the NBA with 26.5 points per game.

The Rockets made a couple of other moves before the deadline, most notably bringing Robinson, Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt over from Sacramento on Wednesday in exchange for starting forward Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas. Houston also sent Marcus Morris to Phoenix for a 2013 second-round pick.

It's unclear if the new additions will be available Friday, but general manager Daryl Morey is certainly looking forward to seeing the No. 5 overall pick in action.

"Thomas is a guy people are going to love," Morey said of Robinson, who averaged 4.8 points and 4.7 boards in limited minutes with the Kings. "High-energy, runs the floor, led the country in rebounding when he was at Kansas. He's a guy we really think has the potential to be a starting big man in this league and has a lot of upside.

"Obviously he's still young, and he's somebody who's going to compete for minutes and try to help us win down the stretch."

The short-handed Rockets got word of that trade roughly 20 minutes before facing the Thunder on Wednesday. Houston, though, managed to erase a 14-point deficit with just over seven minutes left in a 122-119 win.

Harden scored a career-high 46 points on 14-of-19 shooting against his former team, going 7 of 8 from 3-point range. He also added eight rebounds and six assists.

"He's a phenomenal offensive force. He can drive it. He' s got the ability to shoot it. He's got the ability to beat you off the bounce. I think he's almost unguardable off the catch," coach Kevin McHale said. "His first step is so deceptively fast and strong and he changes direction...when he plays off the catch I just think he's absolutely as good as it gets. ... He's just a (heck) of a basketball player."

Harden is averaging 34.8 points over his last five games and the Rockets have averaged 116.2 while winning eight of the last 11 games that he's been in the lineup.

Houston has had few problems producing offensively against the Nets (33-22), who've been outscored by an average of 16.0 points over the last 12 matchups in this series. Harden had 29 points, Omer Asik posted 20 and 16 rebounds and Chandler Parsons scored 16 to go along with a career-high 11 assists as the Rockets beat Brooklyn 119-106 on Jan. 26.

The Nets, though, have won four in a row, including a home-and-home sweep of Milwaukee. One night after Joe Johnson beat the overtime buzzer to give his team a 113-111 win, Brooklyn came from 15 down in Wednesday's 97-94 road victory.

Deron Williams had 23 points and eight assists but was the only starter to score in double figures. C.J. Watson added 17 points and Andray Blatche posted 12 and 12 rebounds.

"Every game isn't going to be pretty," said Williams, who continues to play though ankle pain. "You are going to have these grind-it-out games. We got down and we are able to fight back and keep our composure and get a win."

The Nets are 8-0 when Watson scores at least 11 points. He's averaged 17.7 in the past three games.